Method and system for visualizing shared route information

Abstract

A method and system for visualizing shared route information are provided. The method includes receiving a route query from a user and retrieving multiple route results for the query for display as an overlay on a map. The method further includes processing the route results for display by dividing each route result into sub-routes, wherein a sub-route is a portion of a route between intersections with other routes and aggregating the sub-routes across the route results. Each sub-route in the route results is scored according to a defined scoring basis and represented in the display according to the relative score to other sub-routes. A user can select a displayed sub-route and the method filters the route results to remove any routes not including the selected sub-route and displays the narrowed results.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for visualizing shared route information, comprising:
 managing by a server, a database including a plurality of user-provided routes uploaded to the server by a plurality of different users; 
 receiving a query from a user; 
 retrieving multiple user-provided routes matching the query from the database; 
 dividing each retrieved route into sub-routes, wherein a sub-route is a portion of a route between intersections with other routes; 
 aggregating the sub-routes across the retrieved routes; 
 scoring each aggregated sub-route according to a defined scoring basis, dependent on the user-provided routes; and 
 displaying the aggregated sub-routes of the multiple retrieved routes overlaid on a map, such that each sub-route is displayed with at least one attribute representing its score; 
 
       wherein the receiving, retrieving, dividing, aggregating, scoring and displaying steps are implemented in either of: 
       a) computer hardware; and 
       b) computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium. 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting a displayed aggregated sub-route; and 
 filtering the retrieved routes based on the selected aggregated sub-route and displaying the filtered routes. 
 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein filtering carries out a faceted search, wherein a route has facets of sub-routes within it. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the defined scoring bases include one or more of the following: sub-route popularity; sub-route used in user's own routes; sub-route importance; sub-route speed; sub-route fits user's preferences; sub-route scenic-ness; sub-routes not visited by the user. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , including mapping the query to stored routes in a data repository. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scoring basis is defined by the user providing the query. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein scoring each aggregated sub-route comprises scoring based on a number of retrieved routes including the sub-route. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the aggregated sub-routes comprises displaying each sub-route with a line width, style or color dependent on the score of the sub-route. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the aggregated sub-routes comprises displaying each sub-route with a score label next to the sub-route. 
     
     
       10. A computer program product for visualizing shared route information, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium; 
 computer program instructions operative to:
 manage a database of user-provided routes; 
 receive a query from a user; 
 retrieve multiple user-provided routes matching the query from the database; 
 divide each retrieved route into sub-routes, wherein a sub-route is a portion of a route between intersections with other routes; 
 aggregate the sub-routes across the retrieved routes; 
 score each aggregated sub-route according to a defined scoring basis, dependent on the user-provided routes; and 
 represent each aggregated sub-route in a display overlaid on a map according to a score of the sub-route; 
 
 wherein said program instructions are stored on said computer readable medium. 
 
     
     
       11. A system for visualizing shared route information, comprising:
 a data repository storing map information and user-provided routes uploaded to the server by a plurality of different users; 
 a computer-based query input mechanism to receive route queries; and 
 a processor configured to retrieve from the repository routes matching a query received by the query input mechanism, to determine sub-routes included in the matching routes, wherein a sub-route is a portion of a route between intersections with other routes, to assign scores to the determined sub-routes according to a defined scoring basis dependent on the matching routes; and to prepare for display the determined sub-routes, such that each sub-route in the display is represented according to a relative score of the sub-route. 
 
     
     
       12. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a user selection mechanism for selecting a displayed sub-route; and 
 a filtering mechanism to filter the route results based on the selected sub-route. 
 
     
     
       13. The system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the filtering mechanism carries out a faceted search, wherein a route has facets of sub-routes within it. 
     
     
       14. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , including:
 the data repository includes a history of a user's own routes and wherein the defined scoring basis is dependent on the history. 
 
     
     
       15. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the defined scoring bases include one or more of the following: sub-route popularity; sub-route used in user's own routes; sub-route importance; sub-route speed; sub-route fits user's preferences; sub-route scenic-ness; sub-routes not visited by the user. 
 
     
     
       16. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 representing each sub-route relative to other sub-routes includes one or more of: dashing of lines with different lengths of dashes; colour of lines; saturation or opacity of lines; width of lines; style of lines; label next to sub-route. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to assign scores to the aggregated sub-routes using a user selected scoring basis defined by the user providing the query. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to assign a score to each aggregated sub-route based on a number of retrieved routes including the sub-route. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor represents each sub-route with a line width, style or color dependent on the score of the sub-route. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor represents each sub-route with a score label next to the sub-route.